Gallet Returns And Immediately Wants To Leave Again
Two centuries after its founding in 1826, Gallet returns — finally. And I don’t mean “finally after a hundred years,” but “finally after all the teasing.” The marque that’s now part of House of Brands, which also includes Breitling and Universal Genève, is back, but don’t run to the Breitling dealer right away to see if a revamped Exelsior is available. The first “Gallet manufactured by Breitling” will hit the shops on September 3rd. First, the brand Gallet returns with a new website and a new creative identity, “The Great Escape — Wanderlust Since 1826.” This title covers a brand film, historical stories, and weekly dispatches from Gallet’s adventurers around the world. It will offer you a first glimpse into the world of Gallet. It promises to be very active, dynamic, and outdoorsy.
According to Gallet, adventure still matters. And if it does, modern-day adventurers need gear that can handle it. Gallet is ready to take on the task of timekeeper. Now under Breitling’s ownership following its 2025 acquisition, the 200-year-old brand is ready to roll and is preparing for a full relaunch on September 3rd. But first, it wants to explain what “wanderlust” means, as it’s at the heart of the revived brand.
Vintage advertising of Gallet Multichron Clamshell in 1939
Gallet returns: “The Great Escape — Wanderlust Since 1826”
Gallet was never about desk divers or boardroom watches. Our in-house Gallet aficionado, Tomas Rosputinsky, knows this very well, and he’s been looking forward to Gallet 2.0 with high hopes, as he wrote in an article last year. In the past, Gallet made timing instruments for pilots, racers, sailors, and explorers. Indeed, people with wanderlust have a strong, innate desire or impulse to wander, travel, and explore the world. The word has a German origin and describes a deep yearning to experience the unknown and escape the familiar. It’s best to do that with a sturdy and robust Gallet watch on the wrist, according to Georges Kern, CEO of House of Brands, which now includes Breitling, Universal Genève, and Gallet.
On the new brand website, a cinematic film explains Gallet’s new spirit and showcases historical stories from the company’s archives. More importantly, though, the website also serves as a platform for photographers, filmmakers, and adventurers traveling around the world to share their experiences. Rather than simply talking about exploration, the brand wants to immerse itself in it again.
Gallet Multichron Clamshells (1938)
Starting July 22nd, weekly dispatches will come online. One contributor is Donal Boyd, an American fine art photographer and conservationist whose work focuses heavily on elephant conservation. His first dispatch from Kenya follows the rehabilitation story of a rescued elephant named Ndotto. Other contributors include Benjamin Kellett paragliding across the Himalayas, Benjamin Hardman sailing through Antarctica, Dhir Jakharia photographing wildlife in Nairobi, and L. Renee exploring the rugged landscapes around California’s Bay Area.
But what watches can you take with you when you go to explore the great outdoors? We will answer that in detail later. But we do know where the watches will be made?
Gallet Multichron Regulator (1936)
Manufactured by Breitling
Gallet’s comeback is part of an interesting strategy. When you look at the House of Brands, Gallet “lives” on the first floor, Breitling has a suite on the second floor, and Universal Genève occupies the penthouse. Gallet does get a lot of help from the upstairs neighbor, though, in terms of settling in and making itself comfortable. The entry-level-luxury watch brand benefits from Breitling’s manufacturing capabilities, service network, and retail infrastructure. And when the first Gallet watches become available, they will be featured in dedicated safari-inspired Gallet spaces inside Breitling boutiques worldwide. Are they laying it on a bit thick? Well, with a drop of Breitling DNA in the mix, this is not entirely unexpected.
What you will discover on a Gallet safari in September is that the brand’s collection serves as Breitling’s more accessible luxury sibling.
Vintage ad for the Gallet Flying Officer (ca. 1950)
The original Gallet spirit
Gallet was, of course, not born inside the recently built The House of Brands. The brand’s “crib” stood in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It was Julien Gallet who started the company, and it initially operated as a watch-trading business. It later evolved into a maker of robust chronographs and timing instruments. The Gallets were an adventurous bunch. Julien Gallet’s grandson reportedly explored and documented Alpine routes in Switzerland, with one ridge in the Bernese Oberland still carrying the name “Galletgrat.” Before long, though, the brand’s connection to exploration extended far beyond the Alps.
In 1864, Gallet expanded into the USA, and the country became the company’s primary export market. This relationship defined the brand’s identity, driving it to develop specialized timepieces suited for the US military, aviation, and racing. A fine example is the Wright brothers’ first powered flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. Timing that historic 59-second journey was a Gallet stopwatch known as The Sun. And as aviation and motorsport rapidly evolved during the early 20th century, Gallet continued producing watches designed for those harsh, challenging, and unpredictable conditions.
Harry S. Truman in Miami (1949) – Image: Abbie Rowe, National Park Service, Harry S. Truman Library
More American Gallet wearers
In 1938, the brand introduced the Multichron Clamshell, widely regarded as one of the earliest waterproof chronographs. A year later came the Flying Officer, a chronograph designed to help pilots track time zones during long-distance flights. Even President Harry Truman owned one, reportedly calling it “the most elaborate wristwatch” he had ever seen.
Another American, racing driver Rex Mays, received a Gallet Multichron Regulator after winning the Springfield Mile, further cementing the brand’s place within competitive timing culture. There’s a lot of American historical storytelling here indeed. Will modern-day Gallet also be an American success story? The watches that were shown under embargo sure look like they fit American wrists/tastes.
Gallet Flying Officer (1939)
Asking for a little more patience
We get it; you’re curious to see what modern-day Gallet watches will look like. Will there be a reimagined Flying Officer or a new interpretation of the Multichron, for instance? If so, how big will they be, and what movement(s) will they use? We can only ask for a little more patience. As mentioned, on September 3rd, the first full collection of modern timepieces manufactured under Breitling’s ownership will debut. One thing we can disclose is that prices start at €3.200 here in the Netherlands. Also, if the current campaign is any indication, expect watches that lean heavily into the brand’s historical connection to travel, aviation, motorsport, and exploration. Rather than relying solely on revamping archival references, Gallet wants to create an entire atmosphere around the spirit of adventure and fill it with watches that fit right in.
How are you experiencing Gallet’s brand build-up so far? Are you getting more and more excited, and has it awakened the adventurous spirit you forgot you had? Are you also curious to see what “Manufactured by Breitling” will look and feel like in the metal? Will it please die-hard Gallet fans, like Tomas, while also appealing to a new audience? Please share your thoughts in the comments. And you can check out what “wanderlust,” according to Gallet, looks like right here on the brand’s official website.
